(NewsNation) — Authorities in Brazil are monitoring suspected cases of Ebola, as an outbreak continues to grow in central Africa.

In Brazil, two possible Ebola cases emerged in Sao Paolo and Rio de Janeiro. One patient tested positive for meningitis and one for malaria, but health officials say that does not rule out Ebola.

In Italy, a symptomatic patient was admitted to the hospital in Cagliari, Italy, after returning from the Democratic Republic of Congo, but tested negative Monday.

Trump focuses on keeping Ebola out of US over fighting outbreak abroad

There have been more than 40 confirmed deaths from the Ebola outbreak, with hundreds more suspected. The source of the virus is believed to be the fruit bat. Ebola can be transmitted from animals to humans and is highly contagious, spreading via contact with bodily fluids and contaminated surfaces.

The outbreak began in May and health authorities have struggled to gain control. There are 263 confirmed cases reported in Uganda and Congo, according to the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with 1,100 more cases under investigation.

The outbreak response has been hindered by transmission in remote areas with few health facilities, along with conflict in the region.

Attacks in Ituri by the Allied Democratic Force, a rebel group allied with the Islamic State group, and a coalition of ethnic militias have also hindered the response. The illness also has been reported in the Congolese provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu, south of Ituri, where the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group controls many key cities, including Goma and Bukavu. The rebels have reported two cases.

Funding cuts, including those from the U.S., have also left international health organizations struggling to keep pace with the outbreak.

The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.

Doctors issue warning over reemerging ‘Benadryl Challenge’ that’s sending kids to the hospital

However, the WHO says the current Ebola outbreak does not meet the criteria for a pandemic response and does not recommend closing borders.

The U.S. has temporarily banned non-U.S. citizens, including Green Card holders, who have recently been in affected countries from entering the U.S. Citizens traveling from the affected region will be required to undergo advanced screening upon arrival.

The U.S. is also sending exposed or infected Americans for treatment in other countries rather than bringing them to U.S. facilities specifically designed to treat Ebola patients and prevent the spread of the disease.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.